Flying-machine.



H. IVl-ERKEL.

FLYING MACHiNE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1914. 1,208,031., Patented Oct. 31,1916.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

it S 11v VEN\TOR.

VVITNESSES: I 7/WMi/ flozmni Meriwl ATTORNEY.

H. MERKEL.

, FLYING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED MAY25,1914.

' Patented Oct. 31,1916.

N I N V EN TOR.

[2'0 ward Marita L,

A TTOR NE Y.

1| W1 TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD MERKEL, OF WEST SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLYING-MACHINE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1914. Serial No. 840,712.

the following is a full, clear, and exact .de-'

scription.

Th1s invention relates to improvements in aerial vessels or flying machines comprising an aeroplane; and the object thereof is to provide means whereby the machine may be automatically maintained with the opposite sides thereof at substantially the same height, that is, whereby should the right hand side, for instance, be tilted considerably upwardly while the opposite side is correspondingly tilted downwardly, the action of the automatic devices included within the scope of this invention will be effective for causing the righting of the machine.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of an. aerial machine on which the provisions of this invention are present. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional elevation as taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional ole-- vation of the forward portion of the frame as seen on the line 33, Fig. 1, looking forwardly. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation as taken on the line 4-4, viewed in the direction of the arrow, of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views on line 55, Fig. 4, showing operative parts in different relations. Figs. .7 and 8 are diagrammatic views to assist in making clear the description hereinafter given. Figs. 9 and 10 are views to illustrate a detail of construction hereinafter explained,-Fig. 9 being a fragmentary perspective view, and Fig. 10 being a horizontal cross section as taken on line 1010, Fig. 9.

In the drawings, A represents the sup porting frame-comprising a central and longitudinally ranging portion a and laterally extended opposite portions 6 b; and B B represent the aeroplanes or wings, of which in the present instance two are shown oppositely and outwardly extended at the rear and slightly above the frame extensions 6 b,the same being slightly upwardly and outwardly inclined, and also rearwardly and downwardly inclined, and preferably in their fore and aft dimension formed with a curvature more or less as represented in Fig. 2.

0 represents a motor supported at the middle portion of the frame having the forwardly extending longitudinal shaft D provided at its forward end with a propeller E and having a wheel F affixed thereon.

G ,G represent longitudinally ranging propeller shafts having their locations near thev outer endsof the opposite lateral frame portions 6 b, the same being each provided with a fixed drive wheel 01 thereon,the propellers H being at the forward ends of these shafts G.

J J represent longitudinally ranging shafts located intermediately between the motor shaft D and the oppositely located propeller shafts G, each of these shafts J having thereon a fixed wheel f and an axially movable and loosely mounted wheel 9, each Wheel 9 being capable of being forced facewise into frictional or clutching engage ment with wheel f as clearly understood on reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

z 2' represent flexible driving connections, such as belts or chains, between the motor shaft wheel F and the fixed wheels f on the intermediate shafts j, and 7c 70 represent driving connections between the loose and axially movable wheels 9 on the intermediate shafts and the wheels (Z on the oppositely and outwardly located propeller shafts Gr. 1

L represents asleeve or collar loosely surrounding and rotative on each intermediate shaft J between the hub g of the loose wheel 9 and the member m of the frame of the ma chine or afixture thereof. The length in the direction of the axis of each collar L is such that when the collar is rotatively moved in one direction the cam 0 on the end thereof next to the fixed member m will by im pingement against such member crowd the collar to force the loose wheel 9 into engagement with the fixed wheel f; and as an automatic means for maintaining the wheels 9 g normally in engagement with the wheels 7, the sleeves L have depending members if t provided with weights u u at their lower ends, the arrangement of the cams o relatively to the radial lines of the weights Patented 0ct.31, 1916. l

being such thatwhen the machine is flying on an even keel, the cams by crowding against the fixtures m will cause the endwise movement of the collars or sleeves L, forcing the loose Wheels 9 to engage with the fixed wheels f and maintaining them in.

engagement so long as the above referred to conditions are continued. Under these conditions in conjunction with the revolution of the central propeller E both of the oppositely located propellers H H will be revolved, these propellers acting as tractors" for causing propulsive effects centrally and also forwardly of each of the aeroplanes or wings B B.

The diagram, Fig. 7, indicates the machine understood as equipoised; but Fig. 8 indicates the machine tilted,its right hand side downwardly inclined while its left hand side is upwardly inclined. Under these conditions the pendulous or weighted member assuming the vertical, under the naturally gravitative action, so partially rotates the'collar as to carry the cam 0 thereon off or out from engagement with the fixture m with which it had, under the previous normal conditions, engaged, thereby leaving the loose wheel at the left hand side of the machine subject to the withdrawing action of the duplicated springs q g which are effective to force the loose wheel out of clutchincidentally endwise moving the collar in the same direction. This results in the discontinuance of the driving of the outer propeller at the elevated side of the machine and the continued driving of the propeller at the low side of the machine causing propulsion of the vehicle at such low side will shortly result in making the machine round up to the level, whereupon under the effect of the pendulous member at the left hand side of the machine, so soon as the latter is brought to equipoise, the loose wheel will be again forced into clutch for a resumption of the propulsion of the left hand propeller on an operative equality with that of the right hand propeller.

peller. Of course, if the machine becomes downrtilted at the left hand side instead of the right hand as above instanced, it will be the loose wheel at the right hand side which will be thrown out of clutch, leaving the left hand propeller only to be driven in conjunction with the centralized pro- The tendency between the cam on each collar and the fixture m with which it coacts is such that the farther downwardly the machine at the side at which such cam is located is tilted, the more strongly would become the cam engagement for the steadying and maintenance of the wheels f and g in clutch; but upon the reverse tilting whereupon the side of the machine at whichthe' cam provided collar is located is on an upward and outward slant,

'cam engagement so that the unclutching may occur.

It may be explained with relation to the diagrammatic views, Figs. 7 and 8, that when the machine is down-tilted, say to the rightward,'the wheels 7 and g at such sides have been in engagement and the pendulous member If having caused the cam-provided portion to be crowded to substantially the limit of its movement, such pendulous member at the down-tilted side will, as represented in Fig. 8, be swung bodily to an inclination from the vertical for the reason that the cam-provided member L which was normally in impingement against the fixed part m of the frame, cannot be during such downtilting further swung in relation to such fixture. In connection with this explanation, attention is particularly directed to Figs. 9 and 10, in which the sleeve L automatically rotatively moved by the pendulous member is shown as having an inclined or cam faced portion 0 which on the turning of the sleeve in one direction has impingement against the face of the fixed member m, and which by its turning in the opposite direction swings or moves free and clear from the impingement and permits the disconnection of the wheels and g.

The retractile springs Q q are applied,- as here shown,-for their actions on each loose wheel 9 as follows.:The hub g of the wheel is peripherally grooved and is embraced and loosely engaged by a yoke frame '10 which engages in the wheel hub groove (and is held or stayed against tendency to be revolved by the wheel 9 by being engaged by the light frame y), and the springs are connected to the opposite extremities Q02 of the yoke frame and to the studs 8 oppoitely extending from their supporting coniections on a fixed part of the framing.

One of the driving connections z (here the left hand one) is applied as a crossed belt whereby the rotations of the opposite propeller shafts will, be in reverse directions so that if, for instance, the right hand propeller has its uppermost blade revolving inwardly leftward the left hand propeller will have its blade which comes around to its uppermost position revolved inwardly right\vard,the pair of propellers being understood as made rights and lefts.

By the provision of the intermediate shafts with the mechanism substantially as described in conjunction therewith, between the motor driven shaft and the opposite outwardly located propeller shaft," the weight constituted by the intermediate mechanism is better disposed than would be the case if the engageable and disengageable devices were located at the, extreinities of the lateral frame portions, as, however, might be done under the election of the constructor.

Manifest reversal of the arrangement of the'parts and changes in respect to minor details of construction may be made under the present invention without departure therefrom and Without sacrificingany of the advantages thereof.

Cords 92, or like flexible connections are attached to the pendulous member, and suitably guided to a place of control whereby the operator may manually, at pleasure, throw out either of the clutching wheels, for steering effect, or to assist in the steering by the usual rudder.

I claim 1. In an aerial machine comprising a supporting frame and an aeroplane, a centralized motor supported by the frame having a propeller-provided shaft, laterally-located opposite propeller-provided shafts, connections between the motor shaft and v said laterally located propeller shafts for driv ing the latter from the former including connecting, and disconnecting means, and pendulous appliances respectively appurte nant to said connecting and disconnecting means and automatically operable for the disconnection of either thereof when the side portion of the machine at which it is carried is unduly inclined transversely upwardly and outwardly.

2. In an aerial machine comprising a supporting frame and an aeroplane, a centralized motor supported by the frame having a propeller-provided shaft, laterally-located opposite propeller-provided shafts, connections between the motor shaft and said laterally located propeller shafts for driving the latter from the former including connecting, and disconnecting means, pendulous appliances respectively appurtenant to said connecting and disconnecting means and automatically operable forthe disconnection of either thereof when the side portion of the machine at which it is carried is unduly inclined transversely upwardly and outwardly, and -manually operable means for independently operating each of said connecting and disconnecting means.

3. In an aerial machine comprising a supporting frame and an aeroplane, a centralized motor supported by the frame having a longitudinally ranging propeller-provided.

shaft, laterally-located opposite longitudinally ranging propeller-provided shafts, a driving wheel on the motor shaft, wheels in sets having driving connections with the lat erally located shafts, one wheel of each set being engageable with and disengageable from the other wheel of the set, and with 'one of which wheels ofeach set the motor shaft wheel has driving connection, and means. automatically operable by reason of the uptilting of the machine at either side thereof, for throwing the disengageable Wheel at the uptilted side out of engagement with the adjacent wheel with which it cooperates.

4. In an. aerial machine comprising a supporting frame and an aeroplane, a centralized motor supported by the frame having a longitudinally ranging propeller-provided shaft, laterally-located opposite longitudinally rangingpropeller-provided shafts, a driving Wheel on the motor shaft, wheels in sets having driving connections with the laterally located shaft, one wheel of each set being axially movable and engageable with and disengageable from the other wheel of the set, and with one of which wheels of each set the motor shaft wheel has driving connections, springs for exerting a disengaging force-on said engageable wheels, members rotatively supported adjacent the said engageable wheels, having cam surfaces eoacttion of the frame having a longitudinally ranging propeller-provided shaft and provided with a driving wheel, opposite longitudinally ranging propeller shafts having their locations near the outer ends of the opposite lateral frame portions and each provided with a fixed driving wheel thereon, longitudinally ranging shafts intermediately located between the motor shaft and said oppositely located propeller shafts having on each thereof a fixed wheel and an axially movable and loosely mounted wheel, a driving connection between the motor shaft wheel and one of the wheels on each intermediate shaft, a driving connection between the other wheel on each intermediate shaft and the propeller shaft outwardly therebeyond; sleeves or collars rotatable on the intermediate shafts, each having one end thereof next to the loosely mounted wheel and having on the other end thereof a camadapted for cooperation with a fixed part of the frame, and each of said sleeves having a depending Weight for gravitative action to secure the disengagement of each loose wheel on each intermediate shaft upon an uptilting of the machine at the side at which the given loose wheel is located.

6. In an aerial machine comprising a supportingframe and an aeroplane, a centralized motor supported by the frame having a longitudinally ranging propeller-provided shaft, laterally-located opposite longitudinally ranging propeller-provided shafts, "a driving wheel on the motor shaft, wheels in sets, one of each set being in constant driving connection with the laterally located shaft corresponding thereto, and the other wheel of each set being axially movable and engageable with and disengageable from the companion wheel. of the set, and with which other Wheel of each set the motor shaft wheel has a driving connection, a spring for exerting a disengaging force on each of said axially movable wheels, sleeves loosely and rotatively supported adjacent the said axially movable wheels, having cam surfaces coact- 

